Results 221-240 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Seanad: Order of Business. (21 Jan 2004)

Shane Ross: My second point is a very serious one. Last May, Senator O'Toole and I introduced a motion calling for an examination of the activities of auctioneers. The Minister came to the House and pledged that a commission would be set up to look into the activities of auctioneers and to make recommendations with a view to regulating the area or introducing legislation. I gather from the Department of...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Jan 2004)

Shane Ross: It is an embarrassment to Senator O'Toole.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Jan 2004)

Shane Ross: The ATM is still there.

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Jan 2004)

Shane Ross: It is an embarrassment to the Senator.

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Jan 2004)

Shane Ross: I endorse Senators O'Toole and Henry's comments on the issue of the prisoner killed in Mountjoy Prison. It is a matter that should be of enormous concern to us. However, I suspect it is not really a priority on the Government's list. It is a serious problem which we are failing to acknowledge. Senator Henry quite rightly said that the prison governor, Mr. Lonergan, apologised and he did so...

Seanad: FÁS Community Employment Schemes: Motion. (28 Jan 2004)

Shane Ross: I welcome this debate in the sense that it gives everybody an opportunity to demonstrate their support of the various schemes promoted in their communities. It also gives them the opportunity to be on the side of virtue, to be uncritical and to maintain that community employment schemes are of benefit to their constituents. It also gives them the opportunity to make speeches directed more...

Seanad: FÁS Community Employment Schemes: Motion. (28 Jan 2004)

Shane Ross: It is an amazing achievement of political parties to continually place identifiably sympathetic people on the boards of State agencies. Their loyalties and interests can be undeniably traced back to the social partners but not to the job creators. Where are the representatives of enterprise on the board of FÁS? Enterprise is where real job creation exists. Instead of political hacks, we...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Jan 2004)

Shane Ross: I endorse what Senator Mooney has just said and what Senator O'Toole said earlier. The decision in question will be made public on Tuesday. We are speaking here of a leaked document. If Senator Mooney is correct and the decision goes against Ryanair, there are very serious implications for the airline industry in Ireland. Whereas many of us are on different sides on the Ryanair issue, this is...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Jan 2004)

Shane Ross: Hear, hear.

Seanad: European Presidency: Statements. (29 Jan 2004)

Shane Ross: I also welcome the Taoiseach to the House. In the little time available to me, I would like to relate a small anecdote. In the first week of the Irish Presidency, I was reading through the Sunday newspapers in preparation for a review on a television programme. It struck me that it would be appropriate to review a piece on Europe, which was a topical subject at the time. I should add that I...

Seanad: European Presidency: Statements. (29 Jan 2004)

Shane Ross: That is not my viewpoint.

Seanad: European Presidency: Statements. (29 Jan 2004)

Shane Ross: Say it.

Seanad: Israel-Palestine: Motion. (4 Feb 2004)

Shane Ross: I second the motion and congratulate Senator Norris on a powerful explanation of what is going on in the Middle East following his trip there. Senator Norris's report is particularly potent in that despite the fact that he has skilfully managed to obtain all-party agreement on this issue and that he has managed to produce a balanced motion, he has reached conclusions which must be difficult...

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Feb 2004)

Shane Ross: I endorse what Senators Ryan and O'Toole have just said regarding the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. It is important that a message goes out from this House that we are not an instrument of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform but that it is an instrument of this House. It has been known for many years that the Department has a Kremlinesque attitude to...

Seanad: Electronic Voting: Statements. (11 Feb 2004)

Shane Ross: I am not totally decided, but I think I regret the introduction of electronic voting. The arguments on both sides are reasonably powerful. What Senator Mansergh said is true. Ultimately, making this issue into a political football is rather silly. Even if it has been abused in its initiation, it will not be abused over the years once established. While it is quite good fun to point out that...

Seanad: Civil Registration Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (11 Feb 2004)

Shane Ross: I thank the Taoiseach, the Minister and others, including Senator Mansergh, for intervening on an issue which the Senator raised a few minutes ago. It was an issue which greatly troubled the Church of Ireland and on which several of us were lobbied and asked to make representations, which we did. I refer to the Church of Ireland rule whereby people need not make the most positive affirmation...

Seanad: Civil Registration Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (11 Feb 2004)

Shane Ross: ——has already mentioned. The issue is money. The Church of Ireland has only just issued a new prayer book, and it would be extremely inconvenient, to say the very least, to have to reprint it. There is an issue of conflict between church and State law here, albeit a small church, and what must be done in a marriage for it to be affirmed. I ask the Minister to look at this very...

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Feb 2004)

Shane Ross: I apologise to the House. I could not hear all of what Senator White said, as I was so busy interrupting her.

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Feb 2004)

Shane Ross: I have several questions for the Leader. Could she allow time——

Seanad: Order of Business. (12 Feb 2004)

Shane Ross: —— for Senator White to debate the Colombia three so that we can argue the case? I notice there is no motion in Senator White's name on the Order Paper. We should have time to express our views on what those three bandits were doing out there.